In Gina Damico’s latest book, Wax, 16-year-old Poppy Palladino visits a candle factory in Vermont, and stumbles upon a sinister plot by its owners to take over the town. She befriends a young man — with a rather waxy disposition.

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Click the audio player above to hear Damico explain to New England Public Radio’s Adam Frenier that her inspiration for the book was two-fold.